Report: Bkirki Summit Preceded by LF, FPM Talks, to Be Followed by Other Meetings
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
The Christian summit at Bkirki on Friday was “positive”, with bilateral contacts being held between the Lebanese Forces and Free Patriotic Movement preceding the talks, reported al-Akhbar newspaper on Saturday.
It added that the statement that followed the meeting was issued “by Bkirki and not the gatherers,” revealing that this will not be the last Christian summit.
The date of the second meeting however has not been disclosed.
Informed Lebanese Forces sources told al-Akhbar that its leader Samir Geagea did not attend the meeting for “purely security reasons that Maronite patriarch is fully aware of.”
Al-Akhbar reported however that Geagea did not attend the meeting because he knew in advance of the content of its closing statement.
"The meeting discussed the Orthodox Gathering's draft electoral law in addition to other proposals that secure fair Christian representation,” al-Jadeed television reported on Friday.
Sources added to al-Akhbar that the talks were not limited to the electoral draft-law, but they also addressed various issues in Lebanon including the Baabda Declaration and the Syrian refugees in Lebanon.
On the draft-law, the gatherers agreed that their primary choice will be the Orthodox Gathering proposal should an agreement over another law fail to be reached.
The meeting, chaired by Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi, was attended by FPM leader MP Michel Aoun, Phalange Party leader Amin Gemayel, and Marada Movement chief MP Suleiman Franjieh.
Gemayel will soon hold talks with President Michel Suleiman in order to inform him of the details of the meeting, said the sources.
Al-Akhbar noted that al-Rahi had held talks with Suleiman on Thursday over the discussions on the new parliamentary electoral law.
Meanwhile, FPM sources told the pan-Arab daily al-Hayat Saturday that the Bkirki meeting was aimed at renewing support for the Orthodox Gathering draft-law and “confront the campaign against it by Christian figures backed by the Mustaqbal Movement.”
Furthermore, informed sources said that the Christian leaders also tackled Suleiman's declaration that the Orthodox Gathering law is unconstitutional, noting that the president had renewed this stance to al-Rahi during a “lengthy” meeting they held on Thursday.
The patriarch had reportedly responded to Suleiman's objection by saying: “The Patriarchate does not adopt the law, but we seek consensus among the Maronite leaderships.”
The president then replied: “Can consensus take place over an unconstitutional issue?”
Suleiman reportedly criticized the approach on addressing electoral laws by the factions that advocated the Orthodox Gathering suggestion, wondering: “How can they vote for the government proposal and then back another draft-law?”
“Why don't they discuss the government proposal and possible amendments to it?” he asked.
Hizbullah, the FPM, Tashnag, and AMAL parties all voiced their support for the Orthodox Gathering law.
The government proposed in August an electoral draft-law based on proportional representation and 13 districts.
It was met with rejected by the March 14-led opposition and Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat.
The opposition slammed the draft-law as being tailored to the March 8 camp's interests.
On Friday, the parliamentary subcommittee completed the discussions on electoral draft-laws and the number of MPs, and is set to convene again next week to announce the minutes of the deliberations.
On Sunday, the Christian four-party committee on the electoral law agreed to endorse the electoral system proposed by the so-called Orthodox Gathering, under which each sect would elect its own lawmakers.
March 14 Independent Christian leaders had held a press conference in which they criticized the proposal.
12 January 2013, 12:30
01
The president then replied: “Can consensus take place over an unconstitutional issue?”
how can parties agree on something unconstitutional? lol!
12 January 2013, 15:46
01
In my humble opinion, this law is not the best solution for Lebanon in the long term. It does take us a few steps backwards and we need to move forwards. However I do understand the frustration of Lebanese Christians as since the Taif accord the Lebanese Christians' "interests" have been marginalised for what was sold as the greater good of the nation. Also, the situation in the whole region at the moment and the so called rise of Islamists have left all minorities feeling their existence is threatened.
12 January 2013, 15:47
01
Our "leaders" that the country seems to be voting for again and again have remained unchanged for as long as my memory takes me. Nothing has ever been accomplished by any of them that has truly improved the lives of all Lebanese. They all seem to argue, bicker, fight and increase the country's division. I do not care for any of those so called leaders. Each of them has his own agenda and motives and none of them has the COUNTRY'S best interest at heart.
12 January 2013, 15:47
01
The country is divided yet I wish it was because of political ideology! Unfortunately it has always been because of sectarian ideology and that is the reason the country has not managed to thrive and unite productively throughout its history. We are a divided nation and we always have been but does that mean that we always should be? This law will only make this fact official. Some will think that's a good thing and some will think it's a bad thing. Ultimately only history will be the judge of that.
12 January 2013, 15:48
01
In an ideal utopic world we would all like Lebanon to be a modern and truly democratic nation where everyone is equal and everyone votes for what is truly important for the nation and all its people. We unfortunately do not live in that utopic world.
Obviously this is just my opinion and I accept that some people my not share the same opinion as me
12 January 2013, 18:44
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May be it is time to grow up and join the modern world. The biggest problem for Christians (as Muslims) is not representation. No-one makes as much noise, demands and get his way more than Aoun in this government. The problem we have are related to sluggish economy, flight of investment, no tourists, the flight of our best and brightests. All of this will never be solved with this law or that law. Does anyone believe that the Hizb will give up its weapons or that investment will come back - no matter what election law we have?
12 January 2013, 20:59
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@Loubnani i like what you wrote. I would wish to add one more thing. We have to take into consideration the entire region we live in. It is true that minorities such as Christians fear for their livelihood but it is for a valid reason. Now Rafehh wants us to join the modern world and i think it is a great advice for all minorities. I would wish for them to leave before they get annihilated or we should start implementing administrative decentralization to give more power to the different communities of Lebanon to take care of their own. I think this will strengthen the relationship between all Lebanese.
12 January 2013, 20:59
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You see when you keep your nose out of other people's business you are basically keeping yourself out of trouble. And it is obvious that in Lebanon religion has become more of a culture and each one of these culture is different thus creating some conflicts. Rafehh it is not about being sectarian it's about your existence, livelihood and wether you want to live peacefully and decently with people that put you and respect you before their faith.
